Muhammad Ali

In honour of Muhammad Ali turning three score and ten on 17 January, we’ve gone Ali crackers. This week’s issue of ShortList is dedicated to the greatest, not to mention, most influential sportsman ever.

But it wasn’t just his words and deeds that cemented his genius. It was Ali’s mesmeric look. In tune with the decade that made him – the Sixties – Ali utterly understood the power of the image. His photos – some of which are collected here – are just further instances of his iconic standing.

It’s not often that we can all agree on one thing: but only a fool would dispute the notion that Muhammad Ali was, and remains, the greatest.